Hon. Congressman Danny Davis,

Hon. State Senator Mattie Hunter,

Senator James Clayborne Jr,

Representative Teresa Mah,

Alderwoman Nicole Lee,

Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez,

Director Jeannette Juricic,

Members of Consular Corps,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends

Good evening!

Welcome to the reception celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and the United States and the 2024 Chinese New Year! Taking this opportunity, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to friends from all sectors for your support to the exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States!

45 years ago, proceeding from the fundamental interests of the two peoples and with extraordinary vision and political courage, leaders of our two countries made the historic decision to normalize China-U.S. diplomatic ties, opening a new chapter in China-US relations. On the very first day of this year, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden exchanged congratulatory letters, spoke highly of the historic significance of the event, fully affirmed the achievements in China-U.S. relations over the past 45 years, and both agreed to continue to stabilize and develop the relationship. 

Over the past 45 years, the China-U.S. relationship has kept forging ahead despite twists and turns, and made great achievements. The two countries are cooperating in more areas than ever, with unprecedentedly intertwined interests and far-reaching influence, which has not only brought great benefits to the people of the two countries, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity. 

——Bilateral trade surged from less than USD 2.5 billion in 1979 to close to USD 760 billion in 2022. Two-way investment increased from almost zero to over USD 260 billion. Over 70,000 American companies are doing business in China, earning a profit of USD 50 billion annually. U.S.-China trade supports more than 2.6 million jobs in the U.S, U.S. exports to China alone have created more than 1 million jobs for the U.S. every year. 

——The exchange of visits between the Chinese and American people jumped from several thousand to over five million per year before the COVID. There once were nearly 400,000 Chinese students studying in the U.S. and more than 20,000 American students studying in China. As many as 284 pairs of sister provinces-states and sister cities were set up.

——As the world’s two largest economies and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China and the U.S. have carried out constructive coordination and cooperation on addressing many international and regional hotspot issues including international financial crisis, climate change, infectious diseases prevention and treatment and terrorism.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the most important bilateral relationship in the world, today’s China-U.S. relations stand at a new starting point. How the two countries get along not only bears on the well-being of more than 1.7 billion Chinese and American people, but also profoundly influences the future and destiny of the mankind. We should learn from the past and work toward the future. Last November, President Xi and President Biden successfully held a historic summit in San Francisco, reaching over 20 common deliverables in such areas as political affairs and foreign policy, trade and finance, people-to-people exchange, global governance, and military and security. The summit fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision, which points out the direction and adds impetus to the development of China-U.S. relations. The two sides should join hands to truly deliver on the important common understandings reached by the two presidents, and work to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi.

First, we should respect each other and seek common ground while reserving differences. As President Xi pointed out, for two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other. And conflict and confrontation would have unbearable consequences for both sides. China and the U.S. are different in history, culture, social system and development path. But the differences should not be a roadblock that prevents our exchanges and cooperation. China-U.S. relations is not a zero-sum game of you-win-I-lose. The purpose of China’s development is to meet its people’s aspirations for a better life, rather than to replace or displace others. The world is big enough for China and the U.S. to develop independently and together. We are not enemies to each other. The two countries should learn from 45 years of peaceful coexistence, firmly abide by the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, develop and uphold appropriate perceptions about each other, respect each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation to ensure peace and stability in bilateral relations.

Second, we should focus on cooperation and pursue mutual benefits and win-win results. As President Xi pointed out, today China and the U.S. share more, not less, common interests than the past. Non-conflict, non-confrontation and peaceful coexistence are our common interest. The two economies are highly complementary and deeply integrated and we can and should help promote each other’s success. It is also the two countries common interest to promote post-COVID global recovery, tackle climate change and regional hotspot issues through China-US coordination and cooperation. China’s economy has strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality. As China continues to promote high-quality development and high-level opening-up, it will bring more opportunities to countries around the world, including the U.S..

China and the U.S. should learn from 45 years of successful cooperation, continue to expand convergence of interests, promote economic and trade cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs to benefit both countries and the whole world.

Third, we should enhance exchanges and deepen the friendship between our two peoples. As President Xi pointed out, for the  China-U.S. relations, the foundation was laid by our peoples, the door was opened by our peoples, the stories were written by our peoples and the future will be created by our peoples. The Chinese and American people are both great people. They both love peace, value diligence, cherish family and pursue excellence. They both hope and believe in creating a better life through their efforts, and both hope to enhance mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between our two people. This has always been the source of strength and vitality for the development of China-U.S. relations. President Xi announced that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years, which is warmly welcomed by all walks of life in both countries. China and the U.S. should learn from 45 years of people-to-people friendship, meet the wishes of the two people, strengthen exchanges in education, culture and youth, and promote sub-national cooperation to further consolidate the foundation of China-U.S. relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The mid-western region of the U.S. has always played an important role in the development of China-U.S. relations. We have witnessed numerous stories of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between the two sides in areas of trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture and sports. We witnessed and are touched by mid-western people’s great support to and participation in exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. 

2024 is the year of the dragon. In Chinese culture, dragon, with broad mind, high spirit and strong vitality, symbolizes courage, wisdom and strength. In 2024, we hope that friends from all sectors could continue to support China-U.S. relations with the vigor of a flying dragon, and the exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S could thrive like a soaring dragon.

Now, I would like to propose a toast, 

To the better tomorrow for China-U.S. relations,

To the deep friendship between Chinese and American people,

To the health and happiness of all friends here in the year of the dragon,

Cheers!